Key pad for saxophones and the like



w. E. RlcHARDsoN Filed June 27 Dec. 28 1926.

KEY PAD POR SAXOPHOHES AND THE LIKE Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

WALTER E. RICHARDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

KEY PAD FOR SAXOFHONES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 27, 1?;21.

My invention relates to key pad construe tions for srironihones and the like and has to do more particularly with an improved conlstructiim for holilingr the usual felt pad and lskin cover by a metallic momiting; adapted for removable insertion in the key cup.

ln key pads as heretofore in use the felt pad is covered with a sewed skin facing;v which then pre..-sed into the cup and suitably held therein.

lleretofore such pads have been difficult to replace or conuniratively expensive. In the i of the instru!uents` such as saxophon clarinets, bassoons. and instruinents of a like character` the pads become worn or hardened from use and moisture in plavine. and must be replaced. Frequently the pads are dannigcd or rendered ineffective while the instrument is in use and at such times either an entirely new pad had to be inserted in the key cup or the whole felt interior covered with a new leather which was sewed on the felt pad and then suitably held in the key cup. That is the leather is sewed over the interior felt pad and this unit `glued in the cup.

ln my improved device, however, sewing and gluing' are entirely eliminated` One of the features of my invention is the in'ovision of a pad constriwtion con'iprisinlcr pre t'erably a pair of rings cooy/)erable to receive the inside pad and hold the skin covering thereon by vieldingrly holding the skin between the two ring More particularly l provide a `felt pad retainingring` over which a piece of skin covering is placed and another ring); forced over the outside of the inner retaining' ring to hold the leather in place by wedgiiif it between the l'iolding elements. The 1 emhled unit may then be pressed into the key cup where it is suitably retained preferably by frictional engagement and may be readily removed for a renewal of the pad. or covering, or both.

For a better understanding of .my invention reference is to be had to the accompanyine` drawing in which- Fi l. is a portion of a saxophone showing one of the keys with the improved pad construction applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the pad showing the parts separated;

Fig: 8 shows the parts assembled and in serted in a key cup;

Fig, 4l; `is a face view of Fig. 3;

Serial No. 480.768.

Fig. and

Fig'. t5 is another modified form of ring',

Referring' now more in detail to the forni of my invention as shown in Figs. l to el. il comprises preferably a metallic ring; l adapt ed to receive the usual felt pad 7. a .leather :facing of calfskin 8 and an outer retaining ring' 9 which is adapted to be pressed over the leather facing and inner ringl (3 as shown in Fin'. 8. ln the form of my invent-ion as shown in Fics. to el the enter or retaining' ring 9 has a flange l0 which extends over the lip of the eide wall ll of the cup to atlord a ready removal of the pad from the cups.

These rings and Q are preferably made of very thin metal so as to be as ligffht as possible. The outer ring 9 is preferably of such dimension as to be easily pressed into the cup ll but of such fit as to be suitably retained in place. Due to the slight differences in the diameters of the cups I have found it convenient to make the outer ring* slightly smaller than the standard dimension of the cup and then springing' it slightly out of round so that it may be yieldingly presse/c into the cup and retained by the spring pressure against the wall of the cup.

ln the use of the device. should it become necessary to replace or recover a. pad` a knife blade or siniilar tool may be inserted between the flange l() and the lip of the cup il and the pad readily removed fro Vu the cup. 'lhc felt pad and inner or retain; r cup are thon easily pushed out of the router or locking ring 9 and the skin covering' removed. A. new piece of skin is then laid across the face of the inner or felt receiving` ring' as' shown in Fig. 2 after which the outer locking or re taining ring 9 is forced over the inner ring 7 as shown in Fig. il wedging the leather between the rings and making a firmly supported facing` that is drawn tight but pliable for engaging the flange. The rings are thus held together by friction and may be readily separated. A knife or shears are then used to trim the leather projecting beyond the bottom of the inner ringr thus .forming a leather faced cup to receive the felt pad 7 and the pad unit is now ready for insertion in the cup ll as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus it will be apparent that the pad may be readily replaced or repaired as is necessary taking but a few moments and being accon'lplished without the use of sewing "i is a modified form of my invention;

or gluing as has heretofore been necessary. The inner felt pads T are generally usable with several cover replacements and thus it requires merely a new skin instead of an entirely new pad, and eliminates 'the sewing and gluing of the new skin as has-heretofore been done.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the outer retaining ring i) instead of having a circumferential flange 10, has merely a small lip 12 large enough to be engaged by a tool or the finger of the operator to remove-the pad unit from the cup In Fig. 6 I show a flanged cup 6 which may be used in place of the ring 6 and thus hold lthe felt pad as an entire unit.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown several preferred forms but it will be apparent that changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. I also contemplate applying my invention in other ways than that shown herein and do not desire to be limited to the exact structures shown and described but aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

That I claim as new and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1.v In combination with a key-cup, a skin holder for key pads for saxophones and the like comprising a pair of rings cooperable to receive the inside pad and hold the skin covering thereon said elements being' formed to be pressed into the key cup and frictionally retained therein.

2. In combination with a key-cup, a key pad of the character described, a felt pad, a pad receiving ring, a skin covering over the Apad and ring, and a locking 1ing .forced over the outside of the peripheral surface of the skin on the'inner ring whereby the parts are held together and insertable and frictionally retained in a key cup.

3. In akey pad of the character described, an inner binding ring, a pad within the ring, a skin coverino for the pad and eX- tending unsecured over the outside of the ring, and outer metallic clamping means for securing the skin to the outside of the inner ring.

el.. In a key pad of the character described, a pad, a skin covering for the pad, and a pair of rings separably cooperating to receive the pad and removably secure the skin over a face of the pad.

5. In a key pad of the character described, a pad, a ring forreceiving the pad, a skin facing forthe pad and extending-over the outer peripheral face of the ring, and metallic means for retaining the skin against the ring, said metallic means being readily removable and replaceable for renewing the skin. facing.

6. In combinationl with a key-cup, a key pad of the character described, a pad, a ring for receiving the pad, a skin facing for the pad and extending over the outer peripheral face of the ring, and a retaining ring for the skin arranged to be readily removably held in a key cup.

7. In combination with a-key-c-up akey pad of the character described, a pad, a ring for receiving the pad, a skin facing for the i pad and extending over the outer-'peripheral face of the ring, a retaining ring for the skin arranged to be readily removably held in a key cup, and means whereby the ring may be engaged for removal from the cup.

'8. `In combination with a key-cup, an inner pad, a key pad comprising ai skin covering and a metallic ring structure for frictionally holdingthe skin-covering in the key-cup over the inner pad.

9. A key valvepad for musical wind instruments, comprising a key plate cup, a pad in said cup, a ring surrounding said pad in said cup, a flexible covering for the pad, and an additional ring larger in diameter than said first-named ring but concentrictherewith and co-acting therewith to clamp the said covering over saidpad and within said cup.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this `23rd day of J une A. D., 1921.

WALTER E; RICHARDSON. 

